Former Picher Residents Say Government Undervalued Homes In Buyout

Oklahoma's Own want more money for the homes they had to leave behind.

The former residents of Picher are in court, saying the homes they sold in a government buyout were undervalued.

The EPA declared the entire community contaminated after decades of lead mining and homeowners were bought out in 2009.

Amy Couzan is one of 200 former Picher residents who say they feel cheated.

Couzan said she was paid $40,000 less than her home was worth.

"It was a nice place. And we should have received the amount of money we were told to," Couzan said. "And they wouldn't listen, and the men that was in charge of the program would not listen."

A Tulsa judge will decide Friday if the residents' claims should be combined into one class action suit.

12/11/2009 Related Story: Picher Superfund Site Receives Thousands in Stimulus